How Uhuru, Kalonzo and Others Are Benefiting from KSh 90 Million SHA Cover

Local newspaper Daily Nation has reported on how a group of high ranking former government officials are enjoying high benefits of the Social Health Authority (SHA).

While millions of Kenyans struggle with delays, pre-authorization bottlenecks, and abandoned treatment under the SHA, a select group of senior officials and their spouses enjoy seamless services under the same system.

Sources cited by The Nation say the beneficiaries include a retired president, two former vice presidents, and their spouses.

A letter seen by the daily, dated January 29, 2026, from SHA Chief Executive Officer Dr Mercy Mwangangi to State House Comptroller Mr Katoo Ole Metito requests the release of KSh 90 million to ensure smooth medical coverage for these beneficiaries. The letter, titled “Resource Need for Medical Cover for Beneficiaries under Presidential and Deputy President Retirement Acts,” reads in part:

"Thank you for engaging SHA to provide comprehensive medical cover for eligible beneficiaries under the Presidential Retirement Benefits Act No. 11 of 2003 and Retirement Benefits (Deputy President and Designated State Officers) Act No. 8 of 2015, under the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund (POMSF)."

The coverage is administered through the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund, with State House acting as the accounting officer responsible for annual payments to SHA on behalf of the beneficiaries.

Dr Mwangangi’s letter also included Debit Note No SHA/DR/002/2026, amounting to KSh 90 million. She wrote:

"Kindly arrange for settlement of the above amount to facilitate seamless implementation and continuity of cover for the beneficiaries."

The Ksh. 90 million is divided into Ksh.80 million for comprehensive outpatient, inpatient, dental, optical, and emergency services for the nine beneficiaries for the period July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, and an additional Ksh. 10 million as a buffer for excess-of-loss costs. The funds are deposited into SHA’s Public Officers Medical Fund account at Stanbic Bank, Upper Hill branch.

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale confirmed to The Nation that the beneficiaries include former President Uhuru Kenyatta and his spouse Margaret Kenyatta, former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and his spouse, former President Jomo Kenyatta’s widow Mama Ngina Kenyatta, former Vice President Moody Awori and his spouse, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s widow Ida Odinga, and other recognized beneficiaries under the retirement Acts.

CS Duale explained:

"We cover them, and State House pays for them. Their accounting officer is at State House and deals specifically with former presidents and vice presidents. It is just like the SHIF deductions that employers pay to SHA, or the National Treasury paying for teachers, police, and civil servants. Everybody who is entitled by law, including our senior citizens, is paid for by their accounting officers," he told The Nation.

He also noted that a former vice president has submitted a request for enhanced coverage beyond the statutory entitlement, which is currently under consideration.

Additional sources cited by Nation point out the irony that Kalonzo, one of the most vocal critics of SHA, is quietly enrolled in the very system he publicly claims is dysfunctional. Meanwhile, ordinary Kenyans continue to face long delays, denied care, and bureaucratic hurdles. Cancer patients in Kisumu have reportedly slept in hospital corridors waiting for biometric verification, and women in labour have sometimes been turned away due to pending SHA pre-authorizations.

Under the SHA scheme for these high-profile beneficiaries, the KSh 90 million not only covers routine outpatient and inpatient services, dental and optical care, and emergency treatment but also specialized care, surgical procedures, oncology cover of up to KSh 800,000 annually, and overseas treatment for 36 specified interventions with a maximum payout of KSh 500,000 per referral. Ordinary SHA members do not enjoy these additional buffers and overseas treatment privileges.